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BT vs TalkTalk broadband

BT and TalkTalk: they're two of the UK's biggest broadband providers, with packages that - on the surface at least - are quite similar. But are they really, and which is best?

BT (www.BT.com) and
TalkTalk (www.TalkTalk.co.uk) broadband both
offer fibre optic packages, unlimited downloads and .
But which is the best? As the great Harry Hill would say, there's
only one way to find out: FIIIIIGHT!

Oh wait, no. We mean COMPAAARE THEM!

Cost

Let's start with a big one: how much does each provider
cost?

At full price, BT technically offers the ,
with a low-end option that has a 12GB monthly download limit. It's decent
if you're a very light user who only uses the web for light
browsing and email, but for most people that extremely low download
limit isn't going to go a long way.

Fortunately, both offer unlimited packages - that's all TalkTalk
does, in fact - and for most people, these are the ones to get.
Generally, TalkTalk works out cheaper for broadband, particularly
superfast fibre, while BT offers more
in the way of features and extras. That said, special offers can
change that, so make sure you compare broadband to see which deals
are available.

Verdict: TalkTalk is normally cheaper than BT,
so if you have a tight budget, we'd give it a nod. Be careful not
to focus too much on price though - look what you get for that
money and make sure it's enough for you, before making a
decision.

Speed

Both BT and TalkTalk share the same basic infrastructure, and
their cheapest packages offer speeds of up to 17Mb - though in truth,
you'll likely get less than that.

The truth is that so many things can affect your connection - distance from the
exchange, the number of people sharing
the network, the quality of the wiring in your house - that
it's difficult to call one out as better than the other without a
line test on your specific property.

Both BT and TalkTalk also do fibre.
BT offers 52Mb or 76Mb packages, while TalkTalk has 38Mb and 76Mb
packages available. Because fibre optic cables are more reliable
than copper wire, you're likely to get speeds that much closer to
those advertised - though there will still be some fluctuation.

Verdict: BT's entry-level packages offer faster
speeds than TalkTalk's. When you sign up to a package, a provider
will give you an indication of the speeds you can realistically
expect to get.

Download limits

Some BT packages do have download limits. For example, the BT
broadband and weekend calls package, which is aimed at very light
users, gives you just 12GB a month. Exceed it, and you'll need to
pay for more.

However, it also does , which let you use the
web as much as you like, without fear of being cut off. There's no
traffic management either, meaning BT won't slow your connection at
peak times or for certain activities.

As for TalkTalk… well, just read the previous paragraph and
replace the word BT with TalkTalk. All TalkTalk packages are
unlimited, and like BT there's no traffic management.

That means TalkTalk and BT are both safe choices here. An
unlimited package lets you watch as much iPlayer or Netflix as you
want, download all the music you like, play games into the wee
hours of the morning - it'll never be a problem for your broadband.
It's also near-essential if you have a large family, or live in a
shared house (fibre also helps here).

Verdict: Another draw. Choose an unlimited
package and you'll be able to download as much as you like,
regardless of whether you choose TalkTalk or BT.

Call plans

As standard, BT broadband packages give you inclusive weekend
calls to UK landlines. If your chattiness simply can't be
constrained to Saturday and Sunday, you can also upgrade to Evening
and Weekend Calls (inclusive calls all weekend and between 7pm and
7am on weekdays) or Anytime Calls (inclusive calls 24/7).

TalkTalk gives you pay as you go calls as standard. If you want
a that has inclusive calls, you'll have to add it on. A
number of 'boosts' are available, including ones that give you
anytime UK calls or minutes for international calls, but you'll
have to pay an extra charge to get them.

Verdict: BT has more bundled call options, and
takes the win.

Extras

Joining BT gives you loads of perks, but it has one heck of an
extra in BT Sport.
Every broadband package gets BT Sport Lite as standard to watch
online and via the BT Sport smartphone app. That gives you BT Sport
1 - enough to watch BT's Premier League football coverage and
Aviva Premiership rugby. If you want more sports channels, to
get BT's exclusive Champions League coverage, you'll need
to upgrade to the full BT Sport package or get a broadband and TV
bundle.

Other useful extras include free access to BT's massive network
of Wi-Fi
hotspots, free BT Cloud online storage, and network-level
security, which blocks off sites that are considered harmful -
think viruses, phishing attacks and other such scams. Parental
controls are also available, to block sites containing pornography
or other potentially harmful content.

If you want a full internet security package, you can
also add BT NetProtect Plus, which helps protect computers from
viruses and spyware. It's included in the unlimited BT Infinity and
Unlimited Broadband extra packages. Otherwise, you need to add it
on for an additional charge each month.

While BT is full of flash and sizzle when it comes to extras,
TalkTalk is more about simplicity and affordability - there's not
much in the way of bells and whistles. Everyone gets an email
account and HomeSafe network level protection - when activated, it
automatically blocks sites known to contain viruses, as well as
material that might be inappropriate for the kids.

You can also choose add-ons, or 'Boosts' in TalkTalk-speak. For
example, the SuperSafe Boost (included as standard for just one
device) adds internet security for up to eight devices.

Verdict: BT has many more features, including
cloud storage, access to public hotspots and free BT Sport Lite for
all customers.

TV

Both BT and TalkTalk offer TV packages based around YouView. That
means they share a lot of the same attributes, including Freeview
channels, smartly integrated catch-up TV, and on demand apps
like Netflix.

A basic BT TV
Starter or TalkTalk TV package gets you
more than 70 channels. If you want more you can get premium
bundles, like BT Total Entertainment or
TalkTalk TV Plus.

BT gives you up to 120+ channels. You can add even more with
bolt-ons, which include Netflix, Music, Kids, and Sky Movies.

TalkTalk is more flexible. It offers 'Boosts' - extra bundles of
channels - which you can add on to your package at any time.
TalkTalk has more of these boosts than BT, covering entertainment,
Sky movies, kids TV, Asian channels and more. To see what you can
get, check out our full guide to TalkTalk
boosts.

Sports is one of the biggest differences between the two. BT TV
gives you the full BT Sport pack - including Champions League
coverage - and you can add on Sky Sports 1 and 2 for a premium
rate. TalkTalk lets you add all Sky Sports channels as a boost, but
BT Sport is not available at all. So basically, if you want BT
Sport, go BT, but if you want Sky Sports, go TalkTalk. Or, if you
have a big budget you can always choose Virgin Media and get
everything.

Verdict: Draw. Read our guide BT
TV vs TalkTalk TV for loads of information about the channels,
movies and on-demand shows you can get from each.

Final verdict

We'd love to be able to say that TalkTalk is better than BT, or
vice-versa, but the (admittedly irritatingly inconclusive) truth is
that there's no right or wrong choice here. The provider that you
should go with depends almost entirely on what you want and need.
For example, if price is the most important thing, TalkTalk is
generally the cheaper option. On the other hand, if you're an
armchair sportsman, that free BT Sport's mighty appealing.

But with luck, you now have a better idea of what you get from
each provider. The next step is to use our postcode checker to see
great BT and TalkTalk deals in your area, and compare deals side by
side so you can decide for yourself what's best for you.

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